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Readers Respond: Your tips for providing horses with companions.

Responses: 5

By , About.com Guide

Horses need companions. But not everyone can afford, or has the space to keep more than one horse. How can you provided companionship for a horse? Share Your Tips

rspca rules?

Really ? Foolishness. Horses are much like people. Sometimes they just plain don't like each other. There's a downside to keeping two horses - often they become so attached to one another they can't work apart. If you own a horse, and don't work with it daily, why have it ?? YOU are the companion if you choose to own a single horse. Boredom is another question, and horses on pasture often reduce that by relating to other critters. As for other horses, often the presence of horses they can see in pastures across the road or a quarter-mile off is "enough".
—flyingcollie

Companions

Horses will make contact strait away with whatever is around it. Goats,chikens,pigs,cow, make great companions. Racehorses usualy have dogs, or cats. other horses and donkeys are probably the best companions for your horse, on the other hand iff you don have any companions, constant attention is needed for your horse.
—Guest lanii

rspca rules

i read an article once that said the rspca wouldnt let you buy just one horse!This is shocking i think horses can live with any animal, my horse live with other horses but sometimes if one has behaviour problems a chicken or a sheep can teach it better manners than a horse.
—Guest happyhorsey

Companionship Helps

I have 4 goats that live with my horse. However, my horse is quite happy with the 4 goats! I used to have a donkey, but had to sell it due to excessive noise and it did not get along with the horse. It seemed that the horse wanted to be with the donkey, but the donkey wanted to be alone! Anyway, I think animals really need companions to be happy. After all, you can't be out there 24/7 keeping the horse company in the pasture or in the barn! (Although in the summer I wish I could)
—Guest Equestrian996

Small friend-big difference

I have only one horse and one goat and a few chickens. Goat and horse are upset when one is taken away from the other. They look out for each other. Chickens sleep with the goat and I have fewer bugs and less weeds in pasture. Harmony all around.
—Guest 247rider

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